SC junks petition vs conversion of 16 towns to cities

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) en banc has dismissed a motion filed by former Negros Oriental representative Jacinto Paras to reverse its December 21, 2009 decision upholding the constitutionality of the cityhood laws that slowed the conversion of 16 municipalities into cities.

In his motion, Paras echoed the position of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) seeking the revocation of the ruling, particularly the law changing the status of Guihulngan town in Negros Oriental into a city.

Ironically, Paras was the author of the law that sought Guihulngan’s conversion.

Paras admitted that the conversion was premature and would likely entice local officials to corruption.

He noted that Guilhungan’s conversion into a city did not improve the life of residents because the increase of its internal revenue allotment (IRA) from P64 million to P280 million in 2008, and to about P310 million in 2009, had only led to graft cases brought against local officials before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The LCP, through its president, Mayor Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. had earlier asked the SC to abandon it December 21 decision which upheld the constitutionality of the conversion of the 16 towns to cities.

Aside from Guilhungan, the other municipalities that benefitted from the SC ruling were  Baybay (Leyte); Bogo (Cebu); Catbalogan (Samar); Tandag (Surigao del Sur); Borongan (Eastern Samar); Tayabas (Quezon province); Lamitan (Basilan); Tabuk (Kalinga); Bayugan (Agusan del Sur); Batac (Ilocos Norte); Mati (Davao Oriental); Cabadbaran (Agusan del Norte); Carcar (Cebu); El Salvador (Misamis Oriental); and Naga (Cebu.